life-preserver

plural life-preservers

1. alternativeAlternative form of life preserver.

   Here is a life-preserver, meant to be thrown into the sea when a sailor falls overboard.

   1836, “The Perambulator. Visit to the Society for the Illustration and Encouragement of Practical Science.”, in The Visitor, or Monthly Instructor. For 1836., London: The Religious Tract Society; sold by John Davis, […], page 84, column 1

   4 more examples

   Here's your crowbar / And your centre-bit; / Your life-preserver— / You may want to hit!

   1879, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, composer, “With Cat-Like Tread”, in The Pirates of Penzance […], Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart & Co., published 1880, →OCLC, page 34

   But when I gave him every particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster, and took down a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike.

   1892 [May], A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. XI.—The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume III (January to June), number [17], London: George Newnes, Limited, […], page 525, column 1

   Swimming frantically, each with one arm, we waited for the boat to turn and rescue us. About five minutes passed. Shorty, on the drifting boat, sixty yards away now, was futilely throwing life-preservers toward us.

   1999, C. R. Gutermuth, “[Fishing Adventures] Life Hung on an 18-Thread”, in The World of Incredible Outdoor Adventures: Hair-raising Hunting & Fishing Experiences from Field & Stream’s Greatest Writers, Minnetonka, Minn.: Creative Publishing International, Inc., →ISBN, page 61, column 1

   I was so happy to see them! It was like being thrown a life-preserver in the middle of the ocean.

   2010, M. Walter Levine with Virginia Juliano, “The Climb”, in How Can I Help You? The Most Important Question in Business and in Life, Green Farms, Conn.: MWL Enterprises, →ISBN, page 63